The Bombay High Court today refused to stay the process issued against national award-winning filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar by the lower court,which has directed him to face trial in the rape case filed by actress Preeti Jain.

In July 2004,Preeti had lodged a complaint with the Versova Police against Bhandarkar alleging he had raped her 16 times between 1999 and 2004 under the pretext of casting her as actress in his films.

The Andheri metropolitan court last year found substance in Jain’s complaint,and issued process against Bhandarkar,directing him to face the trial.

Bhandarkar then challenged the lower court’s order before the High Court. Justice R C Chavan today rejected his plea.

Advocate Shreyansh Mithare,appearing for Bhandarkar,said they would go through the judgement copy and then decide on challenging the order in the apex court.

In September last year,the magistrate’s court had rejected the police report which had said that the case was ‘maliciously false’,and ruled that Bhandarkar must face the